The New Café Théâtre Brings French Fare to the Theatre

by Chris Landry

A Francophone community centre in Calgary’s Lincoln Park neighbourhood, Cité des Rocheuses is home to a French language school, a theatre, and now, a new restaurant.

Open since September, Café Théâtre brings a new French dining experience to the centre. The restaurant is focused on classic French cuisine, with dishes like blanquette de veau (a veal dish), confit lamb shoulder, salmon clam chowder, burgers, onion soup and more. The restaurant also serves brunch on Saturdays, with all the usual fare including crepes.

Café Théâtre offers a place to gather before and after watching a show or performance at the community centre’s Rocky Mountain City Theatre, where Cité des Rocheuses hosts larger plays, movie nights and more. However, there’s also a small stage in the restaurant for musicians, comedians and other small-scale performances. The restaurant is decked out to look like a retro theatre, creating a link between it and the Rocky Mountain City Theatre.

A crepe sits on a plate. — One of the crepes from the brunch menu. Photo courtesy of Café Théâtre.

A bowl of salmon clam chowder — The salmon clam chowder at Café Théâtre. Photo courtesy of Café Théâtre.

And while the restaurant and theatre are within a French community centre, the experiences aren’t just for French speakers. Café Théâtre’s menu comes in both French and English, and the community centre events have accommodations for those who don’t speak French, such as English subtitles at movie nights.

“The purpose [of opening Café Théâtre] is to get more Anglophones in and get them more interested in the Francophone culture,” says Cité des Rocheuses CEO Hervé Stéclebout.

4800 Richard Rd. S.W., 587-392-3062, cafetheatre.ca

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